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Atlantic 




ITY 

Ne^v Jersey 




Issued by the -PUBLICITY- BUREAU -1909 



AMERICAS GREATEST RESORT 




Atlantic City, New Jersey 



ISSUED BV THE 

ATLANTIC CITY PUBLICITY BUREAU 

Oreariized January 18, iyO(>. Incorpotaled Maruh 21. l''U.s. 

CONDUCTED JOINTLY EV THF 

ATLANTIC CITY BOARD OF TRADE ATLANTIC CITY HOTEL MEN S ASSOCIATION 

ATLANTIC CITY BUSINESS LEAGUE 

(itoRCE S. Lenhart, Secretary-Director 

Headquartcra Pacific aod Tennessee Avenues, Atlantic City, N, J. 
Eurupean Office. - 3 Regent Street. London, S- ^V.. England - 



rnpyright. 19"9, by 
AtlkDtlo City PubUcitT Burea 



[Fifth Edition] 
1909 



< ^'^ i\-\s 




THE STEEL PIER 

2 




^^^^T^^ CITY IS America's premier pleasure and health resort 
laken all the year round she has no equal in the world Some 

European resorts rival her for a limited Summer or Winter season 
but none compares in popularity, comfort, pleasure and health-mvin? 
qualities the four seasons through. On an island ten miles in length 
and less than a mile in width, extending nearly due East 
and West, separated from the mainland by seven miles of LOCATION 
salt bays and meadows, Atlantic City faces the South. The 
prevailing Southwest breeze of Summer comes to her cooled by the 
c;,, , „ <-''^ean, while m Winter Southern exposure and proximity to the Gulf 

H^JreT^'^'l T'''I'°"°^u''J-''''-^'P'"" '^^'t '"^"•■^ ^" ^q"^ble climate several 

degrees warmer than the nearby cities of New York and Philadelphia. 

Comparison of average temperatures only suggests the substantial difTerence between 
the Summer temperature at Atlantic City and that which prevails m the great centers 
Iwh'i ?■ '" ""''^7 ^''•^"■o" and continuous Ocean breezes make impos- 

sible the extremes common elsewhere. In confirmation of this the following lata 

om the United States Weather Bureau shows that while during the last 
thirty years Atlantic City has had an average of ONLY TWO DAYS in each CLIMATE 
year on which the temperature ran 90 degrees or above, while there were 31 
Philadelphia' ""' "' '" Cincinnati, 21 in Washington, 18 in Pittsburg and 13 in 




HOTEL TRAYMORE 
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The same statement is also true as regards the Winter temperature. The sweep of the 
Gulf Stream toward Atlantic City and the reflection from the Ocean to the land of the 
sun's rays together with the modifying effect of the surrounding salt water keep up 
the average temperature and make the snowfall very light. Such as does fall melts 
quickly away. The extremely low temperatures of some of our large cities do not 
occur here. There have been but five days in ten years in which the temperature has 
been zero or below in Atlantic City. There were 102 such days in Chicago, 25 in St. 
Louis, 24 in Pittsburg, 23 in Cincinnati and 21 in Boston. The average percentage 
of sunshine over the United States is about 50 per cent. In .\tlantic City the annual 
average is 61. There are no rivers or other large bodies of fresh water near Atlantic 
City, and consequently its climate is dry, the air is pure, and there is an almost en- 
tire absence of fog. These remarkable climatic conditions bring to Atlantic City 
an all-the-year-round patronage which has developed the largest and most interesting 
city in the world exclusively devoted to the entertainment of the public. 

Atlantic City is a city of hotels, cottages and shops. Its sole business is to give com- 
fort, health and pleasure to the people who come from all over the world. On any day 
of the year guests may be and are accommodated with the comfort and ele- 
gance of the best metropolitan hotels, as well as the most varied facilities for HOTELS 
recreation and amusement. The prominent hotels possess every modern con- 
venience and luxury. They are handsome structures built for all the 3'ear service and, 
in some instances, have cost several million dollars. The newer ones represent the 




HOTEL DENNIS 




flMWlB 




latest ideas in fireproof construction. ^lany of the hotels have their own water supply 
from artesian wells 840 feet deep. All have complete electric and refrigerating plants. 
Long distance telephones are to be found in the bedrooms of the largest houses. 
Sun Parlors are a feature of almost every hotel. The public and private bath rooms 
are in most cases supplied with hot and cold sea water, as well as hot and cold 
fresh water, enabling guests to secure the benefits of sea water, in their own apart- 
ments without reference to either time or tide. 

Atlantic City is one of the most interesting places in America, not only because as an 
all-the-year-round resort it enjoys a practically never-ending season, but also because 
it is a city of importance among the municipalities of the New World. Its 
public buildings are handsome. Its mercantile interests are numerous. Its THE CITY 
schools and other institutions are large, modern and well managed. Its Paid 
Fire Department is well equipped. Its streets are e.xcellently paved with asphalt, 
bithulithic, brick and wooden block, which are kept clean and in good repair. It is 
withal a most desirable place in which to live. Many prominent people from Philadel- 
phia, New York and elsewhere come to reside all or part of the year and enjoy the 
hotel and cottage life of .'Atlantic City. 

In order still further to enhance its attractiveness a general plan is being prepared to 
which the future public works of .Atlantic City may conform. The 

preparation of the plan is in charge of a committee of prominent CITY BEAUTIFUL 
citizens, who have retained Messrs. Carrere & Hastings, of New 




THE ST. CHARLES 
8 



York, as expert advisors upon the architectural features of the work. The plans as 
outlined include an improved Boardwalk and approaches, a civic center about which 
shall be grouped the chief municipal structures, enlarged railroad terminals and the 
abolition of all grade crossings, additional boulevards and parks and many other im- 
portant improvements. Electric Light stantlards, equal or superior to any in use on 
this side of the Atlantic, have already in accordance with these plans, been placed on 
the City's main street at a cost of more than one thousand dollars a block, and the 
same system of illumination will be gradually extended into other portions of the City. 
Detailed plans and specifications for a superb motor boat canal, with walls of rein- 
forced concrete, are in preparation and the work, when completed will form an attrac- 
tion unique in the Eastern United States. In all these great plans for civic improve- 
ment a uniform scheme is being adhered to so that the result will be harmonious and 
unusually impressive. 

The superior train service to Atlantic City contributes alike to the comfort, pleasure 
and safety of the occasional visitor as well as to the necessity of the business 
man who brings his family for one or more of the several seasons. There are TRAINS 
direct trains between New York, Washington, Baltimore, Pittsburg and Phil- 
adelphia. The double track road beds of the Pennsylvania and Reading systems are 
level, well ballasted with stone, and protected by the best types of automatic block 
signals. The twent3'~fi\-e miles between \\'inslow and Absecon form one of the best 
constructed and longest stretches of absolutely straight track in the world. The roll- 




HOTEL WINDSOR 
10 



ing stock is of the latest and strongest patterns. The motive power is unequaled, as is 
demonstrated by the fact that the fastest train and the nine fastest trains in the world 
run to and from Atlantic City. Of the sixteen trains in the world running on their 
regular published schedule at sixty miles per hour or faster, thirteen are in the Atlan- 
tic City service. These facts may be seen from the following table: 

Speed 

Per 

r.\ilroad rovte mlles minutes hour 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and Camden S8.3 S2 67.26 

Rending ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55. 5 50 66.6 

Reading ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 50 66.6 

Reading ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 50 66.6 

Reading ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 50 66.6 

Reading ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 50 66.6 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 58.3 54 64.77 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 58.3 54 64.77 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 58.3 56 62.46 

North Eastern Darlington and York (England) 44.25 43 61.74 

Reading \TLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 54 61.66 

Reading ATLANTIC CITY and Camden 55.5 54 61.66 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and North Philadelphia 64. 63 60.96 

Pennsylvania ATLANTIC CITY and North Philadelphia 64. 63 60.96 

Pennsylvania Jersey City and North Philadelphia 84. 83 60.72 

North Eastern Darlington and York (England) 44.25 44 60.34 



U 




HADDON HALL 
12 



In addition to its steam service the Pennsylvania Railroad also maintains a high speed 
third rail electric service with trains leaving Market Street Wharf, Philadelphia, and 
Atlantic City every other hour from 7 in the morning until 11 at night throughout the 
year, with increased service during the Summer season. 

Visitors find that the most distinctive feature of Atlantic City is the Boardwalk. It ex- 
tends seven miles along the Beach, with a practically unobstructed ocean 

view. The walk is, at no point, less than twenty feet wide. Throughout BOARDWALK 
much of its length its width is forty, and in its central portion sixty 
feet. Constructed by the municipality at a cost of some three hundred thousand dol- 
lars, it rests on steel piling and is elevated from ten to fifteen feet above the strand. 
It is brilliantly lighted every evening in the year by many thousands of incandescenr 
electric lamps. It is well patronized at all times, but in July, August and September it 
is thronged. In March and April a multitude from all parts of the country finds on 
the Boardwalk an early Spring and relief from the snow and slush of the cities. The 
Easter Sunday Parade is made up of more than one hundred thousand people dressed 
in the newest styles and is a social pageant of surpassing interest not to be found in 
any other part of the world. 

Next to the Ocean View and the promenaders, the shops and the Rolling Chairs are 

the prominent features of the Boardwalk. Visitors, regardless of 

age, health or sex, are patrons of these chairs, which are open ROLLING CHAIRS 

for the bright warm days in the Spring and Autumn and shaded 

for the Summer season, while for convalescents they are enclosed in glass, so that at 

13 




R OY AL PALACE 
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no time is one obliged to forego a trip along the Boardwalk. The chair of the invalid 
gSest may be rolled from his mom into the elevator and out upon the Boardwalk. 
Alone the Land side of the Boardwalk the shops not only act as a shelter from the 

'rlSLe displayed he b.s crT,tol>s ol Amer.ca., artisans. The shop „i,,do«s 

¥Bzi^Mi:^^.^^--^n^'^ -- -erai's. ■". -?:;h" 

center of the city for visitor and resident. 

The Casino facing the Boardwalk and a City Park, is a recognized center of social life. 

Every morning and evening during Autumn, Winter and Sprmg, concerts are g.ven 

by a metropolitan orchestra. 

Extending seaward from the Boardwalk are five great Ocean Piers-in all the world 

the "reatlst seTfes of Piers devoted exclusively to recreation. Nowhere will 

builders and en"fneers find more interesting examples of steel and concre e work PIERS 

15 



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T 2111111111 If !" irt if i " 




SEASIDE HOUSE 



other forms of entertainment. Anyone can find endless diversion in Atlantic City. 
The saunterer is led on by the bracing air and the resilicency of the Boardwalk, the 
allurements of the Ocean, the shops, the amusements and the joy of mingling with 
the pleasure seekers, to walk, until he finally returns with keen appetite and mind re- 
freshed. The Boardwalk of Atlantic City is THE Promenade of America. 

The Bathing Beach is the most perfect on the Atlantic Coast. Forty thousand bathers 
are often seen in the surf at one time in the Summer months. For the 
protection of this multitude Atlantic City maintains a municipal beach pa- BATHING 
trol of sixty-odd trained men, equi])ped with boats and other a]:)paratus and un- 
der the direction of an experienced surgeon. There is but little demand for their as- 
sistance for the Beach shelves off very gradually and there are no dangerous holes 
or cross currents. Life lines are unnecessary. 

The smooth bays and thoroughfares lying between Absecon Island and the mainland 
are ideal for small sail and power boats, and for fishing and crabbing, while 
in a few minutes the larger yachts can find unlimited opportunity on the YACHTS 
Ocean. The Atlantic City and other Yacht Clubs are the headquarters 
throughout the year for many private craft owned by visitors and residents. At the 
Inlet Wharf a yachting fleet, staunchly built and ably manned, at all seasons ac- 
commodates the public either individually or in parties at a moderate price. The 
Absecon Lighthouse, the life-saving drills by the United States Coast Guards, and 
the manoeuvres of the fishing and oyster fleets are other interesting marine features. 

17 




CHALFONTE 



The Atlantic City Horse Show, held annually, is one of the recognized social events 

of the countrj'. Many of the finest horses in the United States are 

entered in competition. The grounds at the Inlet Park are unique as HORSE SHOW 

well as ideal for an open air show. In 1906 Mr. Alfred G. Vander- 

bilt drove the coach venture to and from these grounds. 

The Spring and Autumn Golf Tournaments at the Country Club bring together the 
best players from the Middle Atlantic States. Mr. \\'alter J. Travis won the 
Amateur Championship on this course in September, 1901. The annual Cham- GOLF 
pionship of the Women's Eastern Golf Association was played here in 1907. 

The AutomolMle Course on the Beach in South .\tlantic City is famous for the records 

which have been made at low tide on its smooth hard sand. Probably no 

other Beach Races have been so largely attended. New Jersey is famous MOTORING 

for its good roads, none of which are more used by automobilists than those 

which lead from New York and Philadelphia to the splendid Boulevard across the 

meadows to Atlantic City. The garage accommodations are of unusual excellence. 

The paved streets, the wide Beach, the Speedway and the Boulevard afiford ample 

opportunity for riding and driving. 

The marvelous sand forts of the children bid defiance to the hopes of the advocates 
of universal peace, and their pennies have as yet failed to appease the insatiable 
appetites of the sand lions of the beach sculptors. The ponies, the wading in the BEACH 
edge of the Ocean, the paddling in the shallow pools and the search for rare 




MARLBOROUGH-BLENHEIM 
20 



shells and the coy and reluctant clam — all these and many other diversions entertain 

the children when not engaged in a wild scamper before the pursuing line of foam. 

Atlantic City is at all times of the year THE place for the children. 

The water supply of Atlantic City comes from 21 artesian wells and an auxiliary lake 

in the midst of an inland sandy forest far from civilization. Numerous tests 

pro\-e that its high quality never varies. The chemical tests show : WATER 

Parts Per Million SEWAGE 

Artesian Lake >.'^«>»»^.— . 

Total solids 50 30 

Chlorine S 3 

Nitrogen as nitrates None. None. 

Nitrogen as nitrites Faint trace. None. 

Color None. Trace. 

These figures show waters of high purity very soft and with no indication of pollution. 
The total dissolved solids are equivalent to less than two (2) grains per United States 
gallon in the pool water and less than three (3) grains per United States gallon for 
the artesian water, figures that are as low as some distilled waters now sold for drink- 
ing purposes. Through a perfect systein extending under th.e entire city the sewage 
is pumped several miles out on the meadows, where disposal takes place. It is the 
only coast resort from which the city waste is not allowed to flow into the Ocean. 

As a place for convalescents .\tlantic City has no equal. The pure salt air, miles 
of Boardwalk along the water's edge, rides in the rolling chairs and good hotels, many 

21 




HOTEL RUDOLF 




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of which have their si)ecial diet kitchens where tempting dishes are ]irepared espe- 
cially for individual cases, are some of the features that help to make recovery 
rapid and pleasant. Excellent doctors of all schools, many of them specialists, HEALTH 
are residents. The Atlantic City Hospital is modern and well equipped. 
Atlantic City is the leading Convention City of the Country. In addition to being 
near to New York, Philadelphia. Baltimore and Washington, it has 

excellent train connections witlj all parts of the country. It has meet- CONVENTIONS 
ing places accessible to steam, electricity, gas and water. It has every- 
thing that goes with a large city except great manufacturing establishments and im- 
portant commercial interests. On this account it is a neutral point. No large or small 
city feels jealous of .Atlantic City, which is each year becoming more widely known 
as the ideal meeting place of every important organization. 

The peculiar location, the remarkable climatic conditions, the magnificent hotels, the 
superior train service, the unique and interesting Boardwalk, the perfect bathing beach 
and many other attractions mentioned in this statement of fact have resulted in the 
transformation of a barren waste of sand dunes dotted with a few gunning and fishing 
shacks in 18.^4, into the greatest pleasure and health resort in any country in the 
World— THE QUEEN CITY-BY-THE-SEA— ATLANTIC CITY.* 

*Additional literature, hold list and rates and large city map mailed free upon request by address- 
ing Secretary, Publicity Bureau, .'\tlantic City, N. J. 



23 



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ATLANTIC CITY STATISTICS 



Permanent population, U. S. census, 1870 1,043 

Permanent population, U. S. census, 1880 5,477 

Permanent population, U. S. census, 1890 13,055 

Permanent i)opulati(m, U. S. census, 1900 27,838 

Permanent population, state census, 1905 37,593 

Permanent population, U. S. census, 1909 

estimate 44,587 

City of Atlantic City incorporated March 3, 1854 

Average August population, daily, esti- 
mated ." 300,000 

Yearly visitors, estimated 8,000,000 

Visitors spend annually, estimated $110,000,000 

Within a radius of 500 miles, or 12 hours 
bv train, to Atlantic City, population 

of United States 35,000,000 

Total number of Atlantic City hotels, 

about 1,000 

Prominent hotels accommodating 500 

guests or over 22 

Rates range from $1.00 to $20.00 per day; 

per week, $5.00 to $150.00 

Hotels, cottages, boarding houses, stores, 

etc 10,000 

Registered voters, 1908 10,008 

Assessed value of real and personal prop- 
erty. 1908 $52,300,409 



Actual value of real and personal estate 
over 

Valuation of hotel properties alone, about 

Citv budget, 1908 

Tax rate per $100.00 valuation, 1908, , . . 

Per capita wealth (highest in New Jersey) 

Total city assets 

Total city liabilities 

Ruilding permits, annually, about 

Value of yearly building operations, aver- 
age about 

Banks — 5 National, 3 Trust Companies, 
total 

Combined capital and surplus in banks . 

Bank deposits in September, 1908 

Churches, all denominations. 

City hospitals 

PubUc school buildings 

Teachers 

Pupils 

Annual school appropriation, 1908 

Bathers in surf at one time on average 
.August day, over 

Public and private licensed rolling chairs, 
about 

Miles of city sewerage mains . 



$100,000,000 

$35,000,000 

$1,665,433 

$1.89 

$1,305 

$5,283,979 

$2,970,975 

1,000 

$2,000,000 

8 

$2,880,000 

$9,000,000 

33 

2 

12 

142 

6,000 

$259,739 

40,000 

1,500 
60 



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"lUUNG = HOTEL 
26 




■"^ 



Dill 




Mileage of paved streets 60 

Miles of city water mains 82 

Water department appropriation, 1908 . . $187,000 

Miles of ocean front Boardwalk 7 

City Beach front park, miles 4^ 

Length of longest Ocean pier, feet 2,804 

Military and semi-military companies 6 

Fire Companies, Paid Department 14 

Firemen 140 

Annual apjjropriation. Paid Fire Deoart- 

ment, 1908 $155,000 

Fire loss, 1907 $15,118 

City Beach Patrol (life guardsmen) 64 

PoUce Department, officers and men.. 114 

Appropriation Police Department, 1908 , $100,000 

Acreage of Atlantic City 3,06li 

City acreage, liuilt upon 800 

Acreage of Absecon Island 5,575 

Acreage of entire Island built upon 900 

Distance from Inlet to lower city limits, 

miles 4 J 

Length of Absecon Island, miles, . 10 
Distance from Atlantic City to mainland, 

miles 5 

Erection of Boardwalk begun April 24, 1896 

Boardwalk dedicated to the pubUc July 8, 1896 

Cost of Boardwalk ' $300,000 

Boardwalk electric illumination, 1908.. . . $12,000 



City street lighting, 1908 


$75,000 


Newspapers (3 daily, 4 weekly) 


7 


Theaters 


5 




5 


Sailing and fishing yachts and power 




launches, about 


1,000 


Northfield Golf course (18 holes), 6,000 






1 


First train to Atlantic City 


Julv 1, 1854 


Trolley roads 


3 


Third rail electric roads 


2 


Double tracked steam railroads to Phila- 




delphia 


■-) 


Double tracked steam railroads to New 




York 


2 


Passengers carried annually on city trans- 




portation lines, over 


7,000,000 


Mileage of trollev roads 


31 


Cost of \bsecon Lighthouse 


$52,187 


Height of lighthouse, feet 


167 


Light visible at sea, miles 


19 


Postoffice, money handled, 1907 


$1,299,314 


Stamps sales only, one year, ending Octo- 




ber 31, 1908 


$207,751.33 


Total number pieces of mail handled for 




one year, ending October 31, 1908. . 


34,171,478 


.\nnual average number State and Nation- 




al Conventions, over .- 


100 



27 




Golfing 




MAP OF ATLANTIC CITY STREETS AND AVENUES, SHOWING LOCATION OF PROMINENT 
HOTELS, PLACES OF AMUSEMENT AND OFFICE OF PUBLICITY BUREAU 



Leading Atlantic City Hotels, Members of the Publicity Bureau 
Other Hotels not connected with the Bureau 




»"?' S 1909 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



014 205 047 n ^ 




